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Genealogy: Databases and Other Resources

Comprehensive Databases of Resources

Basic Research Tips for Ancestry and Family Search

Finding by Name

  1. Under the SEARCH button, select All Categories  or Records
  2. Fill out the form with information that you know -- names;  birth dates death dates; where someone was born/lived. Generally you want to to a broad search. That is, not looking for exact matches or dates. Whatever dates you put in, it's best to choose at least a two-four year range. The database will also interpret names somewhat. For example Lusk will pull up Lask, List, etc.
  3. Sort through the results. From 1850 - 1940, the census is probably the best place to first find your ancestor.
  4. Ancestry will give you hints. [Not Family Search] Often these hints are your ancestor and will lead you to other records like birth and death records, Find a Grave; land records.
  5. Be sure to think about limiting your search by kind of record. For Ancestry, limit by the filters on the left. For FamilySearch, limit by the tab Categories.
  6. If you get too many results, you might want to add additional criteria or click on the boxes below the name [you will have the choice of exact, similar, sounds like etc.] Another tactic -- if you are fairly sure about the state of birth, click on the exact to this place square. 
  7. If you get too few results, think about eliminating a first or last name and search by exact place.
  8. If you cannot find your person at all, try searching for children and neighbors [if you know them]. For example I have an ancestor named Adonijah Thomas -- also listed under Edward, Eddy, Eddie, Edy, Edonyja, and lots of other strange spellings of Adonijah. 

 

Finding by Criteria


A unique feature to Ancestry is that you can search by place and race or nationality.

  1. In the main search -- search all categories -- look towards the bottom of the form
  2. You can type in Black (for African Americans, also the antiquated term mulatto) or German or Prussian [depends on what the area was called during the time you are searching] and in the lived in box, search for a place, say Oxford Butler Co Ohio -- and get a reasonable list of African Americans that lived in Oxford. These results are probably not perfect and indeed only as accurate as the census taker.
  3. This is more successful with smaller places -- New York City, for example will be more challenging

 

Using the Catalogs in the Databases


Not every record that Ancestry and FamilySearch has is included in the general search. In fact FamilySearch has many records that are scanned like microfilm you have to hunt through the film online. They also have records that are only in microfilm (not scanned) or only in paper. If the item is only in print, you are mostly out of luck. At one time the microfilm could be sent to a local LDS Library. Not sure if that is still the case. To search the catalog:

  1. Click on the SEARCH button at the top of the website
  2. Choose Card Catalog or Catalog
  3. It is best to search by place if you can. FamilySearch is very organized, Ancestry, not as much. FamilySearch has the larger database.